Vampire Coven Book 3: A Vampire's Embrace

by C. L. Scholey

  “Never,” was her whispered response.

  When Rhett set her down, Hope spun round gazing with wide eyes at her surroundings.

  “What is this place?” she asked.

  “Long ago humans abandoned their way of life to escape to the icebergs and hide from vampires.” Rhett wondered how much to tell her. When the world became surrounded in chaos, times were very frightening to humans. The elements conspired to kill them and the vampires went into a feeding frenzy. Hoards of vampires would swoop down on crowds in broad daylight. A mass cloud of flying blackness in the sky was death-come-hither.

  Tavish had seen it coming. It was hard for vampires to covet their food, to desire the humans in a fashion bordering on obsession. Large quantities of people were needed to slake fulfillment, where so few humans existed in reality. Boundaries were set where there never had been before. Children were captured, but they were useless to a vampire who wouldn’t feed off a child. Many wouldn’t, but as the human adults died, children were orphaned at an alarming rate. They had no way to protect themselves. Tavish gathered as many as he could, but he also needed the adults.

  Weeding out the healthy from the sick was Caine’s job. He did it well but was so busy the first twenty years, he never seemed to catch a break. It took a hundred years before things settled in Tavish’s coven. Soon every person who lived there had been born there. Hunting parties went out but the humans realized they were targets. They moved to the ice and cold, hiding to wait out death. Some thrived, until the law came down.

  When Tavish learned the humans of the ice had made a pact to have no more children, he intensified his effort to save as many of the young as he could. There were very few humans left, and most were old. Hope was a prize simply because of her youth. Rhett knew many vampires would want her. He wondered why the idea bothered him so much.

  * * * *

  Hope had never seen anything like what she was looking at, her raincoat slipped from her shoulders to the ground. She knew she was gazing upon homes. Tavish had a huge home with many rooms inside. But this was home after home in a row. Overgrown weeds and brush grew wild around everything. The ground beneath her feet was hard in many places, Rhett called it pavement. It looked ugly when she was used to the beauties of the ice caverns and the lush foliage of Tavish’s coven.

  She approached one home. Hesitantly, she stepped up things Rhett had called stairs. There was no door to the home she entered. She moved into another world, a world of her ancestors. Rhett had names for each space. Hope had learned about washrooms and bedrooms, but there was a living room, an office space or den. A family room with a box Rhett called a television.

  “What was its purpose?” Hope asked.

  “No matter how I explain, you’ll think I’m lying,” Rhett said and chuckled. “You could see other people in it from all over the world.”

  Hope looked behind it. “How did the people fit?”

  “Very carefully.”

  “And this? What’s this? Don’t tell me people fit in this small thing?”

  “It’s a laptop. I’m not even going to try and explain YouTube.”

  “These things don’t make sense. How could they be of any value? Was that why they were left behind?”

  “In a way. There is no electricity in an iceberg. When the first storms of the ice age hit, the power went out. It never came back on.”

  “Power?”

  “Look up there and see the fixture? It’s where light would come from if the power was on.”

  “But there are lights at Tavish’s coven.” They were amazing, magical and a bit spooky for someone only used to fire.

  “Little seal, you ask a lot of questions, and I’m guessing I’ll be bombarded with more. I should have seen that coming. Tavish has things called generators and solar power. I could tell you about the complexity of inverters and car batteries and windmills, but I doubt you would understand. Humans walked away from those items; they walked away from anything that made sound.”

  “Like when you sing to Ann?”

  “Something like that. Humans felt the less noise they made the safer they were. It’s sad really, no laughing, no singing, no loving. You can do all of those things at the coven.”

  Hope was lost in thought until she nodded at him, Ann loved to hear Rhett sing, frankly so did Hope. Most of her life she talked little. Hope had laughed on occasion when Ann did something cute, but years of the no noise law was always at the back of her mind. Silence was safety. Maybe that was true then, but not now. Rhett smiled at her, urging her to go on. Hope walked into another room; it was faded but still pink. The bedding was on a little bed with some sort of ripped sheet for a roof. Strange pictures were on the walls. An odd creature similar to a cow but with a horn on its head.

  “Did my people worship such creatures?”

  “No, this is obviously a little girl’s bedroom. The picture is a unicorn.”

  “Why, Rhett? Why did they run into the cold and ice when they had homes?”

  “The world became unsettled. Little seal, the rain storm that scared you was nothing to what humans endured. For the most part, the Earth has settled. Ominous phenomena called tornados and earthquakes, like when the ice splits. Tsunami tidal waves, fires destroying cities. A city is a place filled to the brim with people.”

  Hope knew he held something back. “Did my ancestors run from you?”

  “On occasion. But I have saved many as well.”

  “Why did you bring me here?”

  Rhett went to look out a broken window. His back was to her. “When I gave you my memories, I saw yours. I saw how often you spoke about what it would have been like before. I hope I wasn’t wrong to show you.”

  Hope went to stand beside him. “You know all my memories, even my secret ones.”

  Rhett gazed down at her. She saw the corners of his mouth twitch. A blush crept up her neck to burn her face.

  “Ben could have been better,” Rhett said.

  “I thought it would feel better,” Hope admitted. In secret, she had touched herself. She had thought the hands of a man on her would feel ten times better. As she had grown older she noticed the men in her coven, their eyes, their bodies, wondering what they looked like underneath the furs they wore.

  “It does feel so much better.” Rhett’s eyes blazed to life for a second before he took a deep breath.

  Hope was startled; he was actually trying not to scare her. When his hand cupped the side of her face she didn’t pull back. She knew the day they met she would feel his body pressed to hers whether she wanted to or not. She didn’t want to then, but she wondered what she wanted now. Rhett was so much larger than Ben, and powerful. Ben had hurt her.

  A flicker of fear must have shown in her eyes because Rhett removed his hand. There was no one to stop him from doing what he wanted. That she belonged to him was made clear on her first day.

  “Out here no one can hear a cry for help,” Hope whispered.

  Rhett looked angry. “I didn’t bring you out here because of that.”

  Hope put her hand on his arm. “I can see that.”

  She did see from the look on his face she had hurt him. Hope wondered at that. If he knew her memories, he would know all of her. It was an intimate thought. She had wondered her entire life if the stories of houses was true. Rhett had given her a gift.

  “Please, will you show me more?” Hope asked.

  Rhett took her by the hand and swooped down to pick up the raincoat off the ground outside as he flew by. Only this time, Hope looked at the scenery below. She was amazed as her face was bathed in wind, there was no rain and she thought it odd. Hope had always thought everywhere in the world was covered in ice. She had thought the weather was the same all over; what a revelation.

  Big houses, small houses and tiny houses whipped by. The trees and foliage was different from Tavish’s coven, less wild perhaps amidst human-made structures, strange structures. A larger building was where they stopped next. Hope gazed arou
nd looking into room after room.

  “What an interesting place.”

  Rhett laughed. “If you were thirteen, you would think it was jail. It’s called a school.”

  “A school?”

  “A place where children were sent to learn.”

  “Learn what?”

  “How to read, and write. Lots of things humans don’t need anymore.”

  “Read.” Hope pondered. She went to a far wall and picked up a square object. It was dusty and smelled funny. She had spied Mercy with one of these objects. She had grown fond of Mercy in her short time at the coven but had been too embarrassed to ask her what the object was.

  “You’re holding a book.” Rhett came to stand beside her. “They stopped making them before the ice age. A shame really.”

  “Do you know what these markings are?” It seemed so strange to Hope.

  “Yes, I can read in just about any language, speak in any language.”

  “I must seem so stupid to you,” Hope muttered.

  “I prefer the term innocent.”

  Hope put the book back. The room was a mess. Rhett strolled over to a big board that was black. He picked up a small white thing. Then magically he used the white thing to write on the board. Hope had no idea what it said. Rhett turned to smile at her.

  “What did you write?”

  “Hope was here.”

  Hope pointed to a word. “That’s my name?”

  “Yes.”

  She was amazed. Somehow he had validated her, she did exist. Hope smiled, she smiled until she laughed. Rhett laughed, too.

  “Please write Ann’s name.” Validate her existence.

  Rhett took the white thing and again began to write. When finished he stepped back, then moved forward to draw something around the word.

  “What’s that you drew?”

  “A heart around Ann’s name. It’s a little tradition humans had of making hearts around the names of people you love.”

  “You do love her, don’t you?”

  Rhett coughed and cleared his throat. “Yes.”

  “Can you not do anything to save her?”

  Sadness wavered heavily as he spoke. “I can’t make her like I am. It would cure her, she would live but she’d have no life. It’s cruel to change a child, I saw it happen once and saw the result. Tavish showed me before Acca died. I’m a grown man in a grown man’s body. Ann would be a little girl forever—in body only. Blood lust in a child is a scary thing, Hope. Because Galf isn’t entirely a vampire, Tavish has mind control over him. Ann is immune. It would terrify you to see Ann kill. She might even go after you. It wouldn’t be her fault; the blame would lay with me. It wouldn’t end well. I’m sorry, but I won’t put any child through that, especially one I care for.”

  “If she were like the other children, would you turn her then?”

  “No. And before you ask the question, you know the answer—even if she were mine, I wouldn’t turn her.”

  He was serious. He could have turned Acca but didn’t. Hope wanted to plead with him, but her mind was telling her he was right. To be a child of seven forever would be cruel.

  “Come on.” Rhett suddenly grabbed her arm.

  Hope was scared something was coming after them, but Rhett was smiling. They left the school and Rhett settled her into a type of loft in a large barn. Hope knew what a barn was; she remembered there was one at the coven which housed some very strange animals. This barn was thankfully empty. Rhett left for a second and brought back some musty sheets. He made a soft pile and covered it with the raincoat with the lining turned upwards. The inside of the coat was soft and dry.

  “I’ll be right back, don’t be afraid. I’m not going far and can still hear you if you call.”

  Then he was gone. Hope sat on the pile of blankets shaking her head. Vampires moved so fast it made her head spin. Rhett soon returned; he held something in his hand. It was a little ball of whimpering fur. Hope took it when he offered it to her.

  “It’s a puppy, a little boy.”

  “Oh my gosh, it’s so cute,” Hope squealed.

  Its eyes were barely open and he sucked on her baby finger. It was so fuzzy and soft Hope held him up to her face.

  “Can I keep him?”

  Rhett chuckled. “No, sorry. The Anivamps would unfortunately think he was a snack. Besides, he’s not weaned. This little guy is only around three weeks old. All dogs are wild now. But I thought you would like to see him.” Rhett sat down beside her. He reached over to stroke the dog’s head.

  “Rhett?” she asked shyly. “If you weren’t a vampire and the ice age hadn’t struck what would we be doing together?”

  He leaned back on an elbow and smiled at her. “Play pretend? At your age?”

  “I’ve always wondered what my ancestors were like back then. Please, humor me.”

  “We would be married, and not in secret,” he started out saying. Hope cuddled the dog closer. His words brought a tingle to her spine. “I would have given you the dog for a wedding present. We’d live in a beautiful big house we’d fill with children—any children, because back then you could adopt. We would definitely adopt at least ten.” Hope chuckled.

  “Then what?”

  “Then, after all our adorable little monsters were safely tucked into bed I’d put the puppy on the floor and make love to you.”

  “Make love?”

  “Trust me; it would be like nothing you did with Ben.”

  Hope instinctively knew it would be a little like what Ben had done, there would be penetration.

  “Would it hurt?”

  “No.”

  “Ben betrayed me right after.”

  “The coven has its own laws. Pleasure is a must. Besides, Ben was an ass.”

  “That can be a pleasurable act?” She thought now he was lying.

  Rhett took the puppy and returned within seconds. Hope was trembling. When Rhett’s lips touched hers, her eyes widened. Ben had never done that. Her eyes closed as the warmth of his mouth filled her to her belly and lower. Rhett dragged his mouth from hers and for the life of her, Hope’s lips smacked together and tried to follow him. Rhett nuzzled her neck whispering such sweet words into her ears. All Ben had said was, “Be quiet or they’ll find out.”

  It had been hard to stay silent when Ben’s thick cock had rammed into her. He had banged against her ass three times and pulled out leaving a sticky mess. Hope had blinked and it was over, she couldn’t help but think, that’s it? Rhett’s teeth nipped her neck lightly and she wondered if he would feed from her again. His tongue licked at her wounds. For a second he moved back and took his shirt off. He was so well muscled everywhere Hope didn’t know what to touch first, and she wanted to touch.

  Rhett was kissing her shoulders, leaving a warm wetness down the insides of her arms to her fingers. He groaned when her lips touched his chest. Hope felt her expelled breath on his skin. Both were on their knees facing one another. Hope watched as he shimmied from his pants, briefs, boots and socks. Every inch of him was rock hard, he looked like a man who was used to getting what he wanted, and then she remembered he was a vampire, he took what he wanted. The idea made her tremble.

  He watched her face as his hand slid between her thighs and one by one she heard as each snap was released. Using both hands he glided her teddy up the length of her body. When her arms were in the air, his hand captured her wrists and he bent to suckle a breast.

  Ben had definitely never done that.

  Hope gasped wanting—something. Her nipple hardened under his teasing tongue. She moaned as his fingers traveled down her hip. She tensed as two fingers rubbed her mound then gently slid their way to her lower lips. Hope wondered what he would do.

  “You’re tight,” he whispered, as a finger sought entry and Hope groaned, she was tight.

  His finger was thick but Rhett was patient. In and out he stroked making her wiggle. More words were whispered into her ear. Words she had never heard in her life. She was beautiful
, her smell was intoxicating. She should be made love to for the rest of her life. Love was not a word Hope was used to, at least by a man. So many wonderful things were being done to her body as Rhett released her wrists and touched her everywhere.

  Soon Hope noticed two of his fingers were inside of her and they moved easily. Strangely, she was growing wet. Her body burned in places that had never burned before. Rhett let her go and sat back, he eased her hips over him. Hope could feel his hard erection press against her. Her knees pressed against the raincoat and the cool musty blankets beneath them as she settled over him. Being naked while making love was so different, so much less restricting. Also a little scary. Rhett’s gaze was intense as he pulled her up. Hope waited for the blinding pain but her insides were ready. Every part of her ached to have him inside.

  Rhett didn’t plunder her as she thought he would. His power was striking when he lifted her effortlessly. Ever so gently she was lowered onto that massive cock of his. Inch by inch he slipped further while she gasped and moaned, biting her lip until she tasted blood. Rhett grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her forward to suck on her bleeding lip. Hope couldn’t take much more of him, but it was more he gave.

  Hope groaned into his mouth. A hand was squeezing her right breast, then tugging on her nipple. His fingers sunk into her ass squeezing. She was moving against him in a rocking-rolling motion. Her breath caught when he flipped them over. Hope’s wrists were pinned above her head. He was more demanding this way, more controlling.

  Her knee was captured and pulled higher. Hope cried out as every inch impaled her in a swift motion. In and out he pumped until Hope couldn’t catch her breath. Sweat dripped form her forehead leaving a lazy trail to trickle to her temple. She cried out his name and arched her back, screaming when an emotion so intense rocked her.

  Hope was spent. Rhett continued to thump into her until she thought he’d never stop. His hands on her were tight but not too painful. He let her knee go and wrapped both arms around her head and neck pulling her further under him. He was cradling her. Hope loved the feeling. She didn’t realize he had stopped moving, he was lying there, holding her. His breathing was heavy.